F-bar key for saxophones



Patented Apr. 29,n 1947 STATES" PATENT oIFFlCE F-BAR KEY FOR. SAXOPHONES Y Louis E. Berkson, Fresno, Calif.-

-Application November 1, 1944, Serial No. 561,415

Y 'H1-f1@ L Thisinvention aims to provide a novel mechanism'whereby' the F-sharp pad or the D-natural pad of a saxophone may be closed to afford the tone specified, without closing the second B-flat pad, the term second being defined hereinafter.

The invention is easy and inexpensive to install, and it demands no consequential change in accepted saxophone key mechanism, or in ngerng.

A mechanic who abides by what is claimed may make such changes as his skill may direct without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation showing a portion of a saxophone wherein the invention is embodied:

Figure 2 is an elevation on an enlarged scale, the view-point of Figure 1 having been changed, and parts being sectioned away.

Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

In order that the improvement which characterized the present invention may be understood without surmise, it is necessary, upon the one hand, to describe some portions of a known saxophone structure. Upon the other hand, it is ,unnecessary to set forth all functions which may be possessed by parts shown and described, so far as they relate to operations not germane to the solution of the specic problem with which the present invention is concerned.

. The improvement herein disclosed affords a -means whereby, in a saxophone, the specic F- sharp tone pad 5 shown in the drawing may be closed, without closing Vthe specific B-flat pad 6 shown in the drawings, it being possible to perform many passages at an accelerated tempo; for example, that shown in Figure 5 and not including B-ilat.

Notice will be given when the description departs from that which is old, and deals with that which is new.

The numeral I marks the tubular body of a saxophone. The D-natural tone pad is shown at 2, theE-natural pad at 3, the F-natural pad at 4, the F-sharp pad at 5, andthe B-flat pad at 6. The F-sharp pad 5 carries a nger 'I, extended longitudinally of the body I, toward the reed end of the instrument and beyond the perimeter of that pad.

Broadly considered, the nger 'I is known in the art. In the device herein disclosed, however, the linger 'I preferably is shifted from its accustomed position in the direction of the arrow A, to the 2 claims. V(c1. 84-385) end that a rigid, arched bridge 8 may extend 55 2 Y conveniently across the F-sharp pad5, in spaced relation thereto.

The bridge 8 is one of the characteristic features of the invention, in combination with other parts. One end of the bridge 8 is secured to the F-natural key 4. The opposite end of the bridge 8 projects toward the reed end of the saxophone, beyond the perimeter of the F-sharp pad 5.

Resuming the description of known structure, a shaft 9 extends longitudinally of the body I, and is supported thereon, as indicated at I0. A sleeve II is mounted to rock on the shaft 9 and carries a transverse lever I 2, to which the B-flat pad 6 is secured. A sleeve I4 is mounted to rock on the shaft 9. The sleeve I4 has an offset I5. A rigid, longitudinal connection I6 joins the offset I5 with the lever I2, outwardly of the shaft 9. A transverse, inwardly projecting arm I'I is secured to the sleeve I4.

Viewed in its broadest aspect, the arm I'I is known in the art; but in the art it is of such length that it extendsunder the nger 'I on the F-sharp pad 5. The result has been that when the F-sharp pad 5 was closed, the B-ilat pad 6 was closed also. In the present case, the arm I'I terminates in spaced relation to the linger 'I, and the F-sharp pad 5 may be closed without closing the B-at pad 6. Control over the B-at pad 6 remains, since the arm I1 extends under the bridge 8, the F-natural key 4, and associated parts, constituting means for closing the B-flat pad.

From the viewpoint of installation, the changes wrought in the standard key mechanism are simple, and, therefore, advantageous. The arm I1 is shortened so that it does not extend under the finger 'I; the bridge 8 is supplied, and, if desired, the nger 1 may be set over a trifle in the direction of the arrow A for the better accommodation of the bridge.

By means of structure known in the art, the D-natural pad 2 and the F-sharp pad 5 are interconnected, and the advantages alleged with respect to the operation of the F-sharp pad innure likewise to the benefit of the operation of the D- natural pad.

'Ihose skilled in the art are aware that a saxophone has, near the bell, a tone pad which gives B-ilat below the staff in the treble clef and tenor clef notations. That pad, not shown in the drawings, may be referred to as the first B-at pad, and to avoid confusion, the pad 6 may be denominated the second B-at pad. In the present structure it will be noted that the second B-flat is obtained by depressing the rst finger (B-natural key) 6a, using the nger of the left hand. By also using the rst nger of the right hand to depress the F-natural key (4 of Fig. 1) when depressing either the second or third lingers (pads 3 and 2) while the rst finger of the left hand is already depressed at pad 6a, B-flat is no longer obtained. Instead B-natural is obtained. This is an important feature of the present invention.

What is claimed is: l. In a saxophone comprising a body and a B-at tone pad: a D-natural tone pad, an F-natural tone pad, and an Fsharp tone pad, all located between the D-natural pad and the B-at pad: mechanism for operating the B-flat pad, comprising a transverse arm, a longitudinal iinger carried by the F-sharp pad, the arm terminating in spaced relation to the nger, and a bridge securedto the F-natural pad and extending across the F-sharp pad, in spaced relation thereto, the bridge overhanging the arm and cooperating with the arm to close the B-at pad. v

2-. InA a saxophone comprising a body and a '4 B-flat tone pad: a D-natural tone pad, an F-natural tone pad, and an F-sharp tone pad, all located between the D-natural 4pad and the B-flat pad: mechanism for operating the B-flat pad,

comprising a transverse arm, and a bridge secured to the F-natural pad and extending across the F-sharp pad, in spaced relation thereto, the bridge overhanging the arm and cooperating with the arm to close the B-at pad, and a B-natural tone pad above andadjacent to the B-at pad.

LOUIS E. BERKSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le `of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Powell Feb. 23 ,1932 Loomis g Mar. 13, 1928 Lopmis 1-1-1- May' 22j, 1928 

